India’s Alliance Air wants additional aid for Shimla flights

Alliance Air (India) (9I, Mumbai Int’l) is due to resume flights from Shimla to Delhi Int’l after being awarded the route under the Indian government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). However, The Times of India reports that Alliance is seeking additional financial support from the regional government.

Shimla is the capital of the north Indian state Himachal Pradesh in the Himalayan foothills and is the country’s only state capital with no flights. Virtual carrier Airhimalayas (Kulu) briefly served the airport in 2016, but otherwise the last services were operated by Kingfisher Airlines (IT, Mumbai Int’l) in September 2012. The Times reports that other airlines which have served the airport Vayudoot (PF, Delhi Safdarjung), Jagson Airlines (JGN, Delhi Int’l) and Air Deccan (DN, Bangalore Int’l) – did so without government subsidies.

Alliance Air had a successful test flight using an ATR72 earlier this year and media reports suggested it would commence regular operations in time for the summer. Read More…